Prayer Reflections

I am coming upon the end of the year and the end of my prayer journal. With only a few more blank pages, and nothing urgent on my schedule, I decided to spend some time reading through my prayers over the past year and a half.

Often I think my prayers are too insignificant. I berate myself for not praying enough -- really, I should have filled more than one notebook by now with all the prayers this world has needed in the past 18 months. I think I should be praying for more people, for more burdens, for more grace. But today, I just accepted what was there, and I was overwhelmed by the work that I have seen God do. So many little answers to prayer that I just would have overlooked, that I literally forgot or didn't even realize He had answered, until I took the time to reflect on all that He had done.

Advertisement

What are you waiting for?

So Joshua said to the people of Israel, “How long will you put off going in to take possession of the land, which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?" I wonder if Jesus, our Joshua, is standing before us in the same way today.

Writing on Wattpad

A few years ago, I started on a story here on the blog that many of you read along with. I continued working on the story, but was not satisfied with the format here on the blog for sharing that story. So I did some research and found out about a site called Wattpad. I …

Thankful for the Manna

The manna came to an end. They never again got to experience that food coming directly from God's hand. Did they realize it would be the last time they got to eat it? Did they savor those final bites?

In the Valley of Shadows

Here again, I stand before a valley, and darkness looms. So, I decided to take a survey trip to find the light in the darkness.

Holy Spirit – Doomsday Prepper?

God knew this challenge was coming. He didn't start preparing for it last week like some of us did. He knew what I needed to make it through this. He was working even these bad situations to bring something good to my life--to grow my faith in Him.

A Testing of Faith

I've also been thinking about tests of faith. I've been hyper-aware of the tests I've faced as I have had to decide if I will trust God or succumb to worry and fear. And if tests of faith counted toward my report card, I would not want to show it off to anyone after this quarter's results are in.

When the Storm Threatens to Overtake You

When I trust in my Savior, I can walk through the storm. I can see His power and His majesty through it all. I can have peace.

Consider What You’ll Forfeit

Jesus way means giving up on some things, make no mistake. But we have the benefit of knowing that the One asking you to make the sacrifice truly knows the reward is far greater. You don't have to be afraid of making a bad deal.

Consider His Timetable

I have realized that most of the Christian life this side of heaven is made up of waiting -- a realization which will drive me either to sanctification or insanity depending on how I choose to handle it. Because, waiting? It always feels like such a waste.

Consider the Ravens

Consider the ravens. They let God feed them

Consider the Christ

Who do you say that He is?

Consider This: How’s Your Soil?

Good soil doesn't just happen, it takes hard work.

Consider your Foundation

On this trip through the gospel of Luke, I've been tempted to think that Jesus just went out of His way to be contrary. He's always telling everyone they've got it all wrong.

Consider Your Questions

So I will consider my questions. I will lay them before Him and search for His answers. And no matter what they are, or if they never actually come to me in this life, I will keep clinging to the One who knows them all.

Consider the Alternative

So, what was the big deal? This question is crucial, because it's the same one I'm faced with when tempted to sin.

Consider the Cost

Prepare ye the way of the Lord!

Consider This: Where to Go?

The shepherds headed to the stable, all because God sent the angels to let them know Jesus had arrived.

Consider This: An Advent Journey through Luke

Each day from now until Christmas, I invite you to read a chapter of Luke along with me, and consider what your thoughts and knowledge have to do with following Jesus.

Follow the Trail

We walked some trails yesterday. It was 50 degrees in the last week of December, and we wanted to enjoy it. So we got in the car and traveled out to Stoney Run. We followed a trail we had taken before, then another that we hadn't. We stopped at a pond, climbed a hill, took …